Ian Sturgeon accomplishes goal during runBlossom on Saturday

runBlossom participants cross the bridge at Centennial Park Saturday at the beginning of the race. (Jeff Shane/Daily Record)

No costumes, capes or masks for Ian Sturgeon on Saturday. Nope, he was at runBlossom with a mission.

“No dressing up today, I had to bring my A game,” Sturgeon said.

The Cañon City High School track team's distance coach had a goal of beating one of his runners' personal records. His time of 30 minutes, 18.4 seconds did top standout Aubrey Till's female record of 31:26 set in 2011, but her record for females still stands.

In 2010, Sturgeon ran the five-mile race in a mullet wig and a cape. Another year he donned a Transformers mask. Sturgeon is a Young Life mentor and he did it with someone else in the organization.

runBlossom participants cross the bridge at Centennial Park on Saturday at the beginning of the race. (Jeff Shane/Daily Record)

“It was challenging but I definitely hit a PR and it was a lot of fun,” Sturgeon said about his performance on Saturday. “They're getting some better runners so that helps push you.”

Christopher Camacho, 19 from Colorado Springs, won the five-mile race with a 29:08.3 followed by Chris Nelson, 43 from Coal Creek (29:51.5). Sturgeon finished third among men. The top female in the five-mile race was Florence's Ashlee Romani (35:32.5).

It was a youth movement among the 5K runners. Eight of the top nine finishers were ages 16 and under. Cañon City 15-year-old Jamison Smith had the top time of 20:02.4. He was followed by Katie Till, 14-year-old from Cañon City, with a 21:11.0 and her mom Calley Till five seconds later. Other youngsters in the top nine were Tanner Seufer, Logan Green, Austin Woolston, Nathan Pontious, Michael Cohagan and Jonah Biette.

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Race director Brian VanIwarden couldn't have asked for a much better day. They had a record of 390 total finishers with breaks the previous record of 356 set in 2012.

“Great turnout, beautiful weather, we had a record number of YETI kids,” VanIwarden said as he stood at the final turn near the finish line cheering people on. “Lots of young kids out which is always awesome. We're going to have to order more t-shirts next year.”

VanIwarden is the leader of the group Fremont Adventure Recreation, that promotes outdoor recreation in Fremont County.

YETI is the Youth Exercise Training Initiative that VanIwarden helped set up. It's currently in Cañon City High School, Cañon City Middle School, Harrison K8 School and Lincoln School of Science and Technology.

“It continues to grow and it has a positive vibe,” VanIwarden said. “As a director, I want people to have fun. This is a good community event where we're not about going as fast as you can, we're about beating whatever goal you set for yourself.”

Sports Editor Brandon Hopper can be reached at 276-7644 or facebook.com/CCDRsports.